5 Indian officials trained in Australia on use of biosecurity treatments

Five Indian officials received training in Australia on the use of biosecurity treatments to enable enhanced bilateral trade.

Australia's High Commissioner to India Harinder Sidhu said the training was a practical example of how the two countries work together to strengthen the economic partnership, according to a statement issued by the Australian High Commission in New Delhi.

"These initiatives not only promote valuable knowledge exchange between our officials, but also build strong people-to-people connections," she said.

The training aimed to support India's goal of increasing exports of safe, quality agricultural products, as well as developing Indian capabilities in using this treatment for other exports as well as for imported goods, the statement read.

It focused on the use of biosecurity treatments, particularly on in-transit cold treatment for the export of horticultural products, including table grapes.

"Use of these treatments can ensure the biosecurity risks associated with pests not found in Australia are managed in a robust manner. It also ensures that the produce stays as fresh as possible and ready for the consumer to eat," Sidhu said.

The development of India's capability to provide these treatments for exports and to know what to look for in incoming shipments in India will enable greater trade so Australian and Indian consumers can enjoy the produce of both the countries, she said.

As part of the programme, Indian officials visited the state of Victoria, including the Mallee region, one of Australia's key agricultural areas, to learn how the country's biosecurity and export systems operate, the statement added.

This was the second round of a training programme which commenced with an initial session in which 30 Indian officials had participated.